Beyond the Apocalypse-Chapter 1026: Lord Tier Bloodlines

"Impo...ssible..."

That was the final word to escape Noctyr’s mouth as the light in his eyes faded. The two halves of the Devil Lord’s body collapsed to the ground, lifeless, the infernal power that had once animated them dispersing into nothingness.

Vlad did not lower his guard immediately.

His eyes remained sharp and focused, tracking the battlefield with ruthless precision as he searched for any lingering trace of resistance. Only when he confirmed that Noctyr’s soul had truly been erased—utterly annihilated by that final strike—did he allow himself to relax.

The moment he did, his strength failed him.

Blood leaked from the corners of his eyes as his vision blurred, his body trembling violently. He had pushed himself far beyond his limits, drawing on power that even his reinforced physique and soul struggled to contain. His knees nearly buckled, but sheer willpower kept him upright.

Forcing his mind to remain clear, the True Depravita of Wrath acted quickly. With a thought, he swept the two halves of the Devil Lord’s corpse—and every single drop of blood spilled during the battle—into his spatial ring. Nothing of value would be wasted.

Only then did Vlad focus his remaining power.

The battlefield vanished. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Moments later, he stood within the endless void, and a wide smile spread across his face as he saw the others waiting for him. Freya, Ouroboros, Fafnir, Jormungandr, and Overlord were all present, battered but alive.

Their expedition into Hell to obtain new bloodlines had been an overwhelming success.

Judging by the exhaustion written across their faces and the turbulent fluctuations of their soul force and psychic power, none of the battles had been easy. Yet the outcome spoke for itself. Every warrior present had proven capable of killing a Devil Lord—an achievement beyond even most normal Lords.

After allowing themselves several minutes to recover, the group returned to Terra.

The journey back was uneventful, which was a blessing. They needed every moment of calm they could get if they intended to march into the Abyss next, where they would capture Demon Souls and ascend to become Lord-Tier Demon Soul Masters.

As soon as they arrived at the Xaos Tower, Vlad, Freya, Ouroboros, and Fafnir handed over the bodies they had collected to Jormungandr and Overlord.

The small yellow cat would oversee the extraction and implantation of the bloodlines. Overlord, as the A.I. Chip Clone, would assist him—his mastery of genetic coding and vast reserves of Divine Power ensuring that the Devil Bloodlines would retain their purity and maximum potential.

Freya, Ouroboros, and Fafnir focused entirely on healing.

Vlad, however, had to divide his attention.

While his injuries required care, he also needed to continue rune crafting. Though already a Lord-Tier Rune Master, he still had to create Demon Cages powerful enough to imprison Lord-Tier Demon Souls—an extremely demanding task.

Days passed in relentless work.

The True Depravitas and Overlord recovered steadily, their power refining itself further with each passing moment. Then, at last, Jormungandr’s voice echoed through all their minds.

The moment Vlad, Freya, Fafnir, and Ouroboros teleported to the alchemy laboratory, wide smiles filled their faces—excitement and anticipation burning in their eyes.

Jormungandr stood at the center of the room, heavy bags under his eyes betraying days of sleepless labor. Despite his exhaustion, a triumphant smile stretched across his face.

He had succeeded.

With a flick of his paw, six orbs floated into the air, each containing a unique and terrifying bloodline. He sent them drifting toward the group.

"I’ve already engraved the magic matrices within the blood," Jormungandr said. "Simply send them into your hearts. They will spread through your bodies and fuse with your essence on their own."

As they focused on the blood sealed within the orbs, Vlad and the others immediately sensed the immense power contained inside. It was more than enough to drastically enhance every one of them.

"Time is gold."

Overlord’s voice snapped them back to reality.

Their expressions turned solemn as they nodded. They had gone to Hell for these bloodlines so they could face whatever horror the Alien Lord had prepared in Valhalla. They could not afford to waste a single second.

After clasping hands and offering a bow of gratitude to Jormungandr, everyone returned to their chambers.

Vlad took a deep breath as he stared at the orb floating before him.

With careful precision, he made a small cut in his chest, slicing all the way down to his heart. Then, with extreme caution, he drew the blood from the orb and guided it directly into the exposed organ.

The moment the blood touched his heart, it surged inward violently.

Power flooded through every muscle fiber, every vein, every cell. His wounds sealed instantly, but the relief was fleeting. A burning sensation spread across his body as if molten lava were coursing through his veins.

Pain erupted.

His muscles, bones, and genome rewrote themselves under the overwhelming force of the bloodline. The agony intensified as the transformation reached his soul and spirit—where true Devil Bloodlines left their deepest mark.

Vlad collapsed to the ground, his body twitching uncontrollably. He clenched his teeth, refusing to scream, though the pain nearly shattered his consciousness.

Fortunately, while excruciating, the process was fast.

In less than half an hour, it was over.

Vlad lay flat on the floor, drenched in cold sweat, struggling to regulate his breathing. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat growing stronger than the last.

Then, suddenly, a monstrous surge of bloodline power erupted from his body, flooding the chamber with overwhelming pressure.

Vlad laughed softly.

He could feel his body growing stronger—far stronger than before. But what surprised him most was the change in his eyes.

A strange sensation passed through them, and when he focused inward, he understood.

Their color shifted to a violet-white hue.

Perfectly matching the unique eye that had floated above Noctyr’s body.

And with that realization came certainty.

Those eyes were the key to the Devil Lord’s mastery over the Law of Space.

"Celestial Eyes."

Vlad uttered the name softly, unable to stop a small, satisfied smile from forming on his face.

"It seems the rumors about Noctyr being part of Heaven before his fall into Hell were somewhat true."

Although he had no reservations about claiming treasure that once belonged to Heaven, Vlad quickly reassigned his focus to analysis rather than sentiment. His newly transformed eyes pulsed faintly as he examined their nature and limits.

"They aren’t as powerful as the Quantum Eye," he murmured, "but they can be evolved."

The bloodline had already reached the peak of the Lord Tier. With time, refinement, and sufficient resources, Vlad was confident he could push it into the Paragon Tier. If that happened, the Celestial Eyes might one day rival—even match—the Quantum Eye itself.

With that excellent revelation, Vlad finally allowed himself to rest.

He settled into meditation, stabilizing his new power and allowing his body and soul to harmonize with the Devil Lord bloodline. The process did not take long before new surges of bloodline energy began to erupt throughout the Xaos Tower.

The first surge radiated overwhelming vitality and fire, carrying the promise of endless regeneration—as though no wound could ever truly be fatal.

The second was different. It made the very particles of existence vibrate, as if boundless speed and unstoppable momentum had been unleashed upon reality itself.

Then came a flash of crimson light, majestic and sharp, so intense that for a brief moment it seemed to overwrite the blue of the sky.

Next followed a surge of yellow lightning—not violently destructive, but immensely reinforcing, strengthening everything it touched and elevating it beyond its former limits.

Finally came a power that felt eternal.

It was dense, enduring, and unyielding, as though it could withstand the passage of endless ages without ever breaking.

Vlad wore a wide, radiant smile as he sensed each eruption in turn. In the next instant, he teleported to the highest chamber of the Xaos Tower and waited.

One by one, the others arrived.

Freya. Ouroboros. Fafnir. Jormungandr. And finally, Overlord.

Vlad’s smile widened as he felt the transformation within them. Every single True Depravita had grown vastly stronger than before. The Devil Lord bloodlines had not only enhanced their bodies and energy reserves, but—far more importantly—they flowed perfectly with their respective combat styles.

Each bloodline amplified what they were already best at, sharpening their strongest aspects and pushing their battle power to an entirely new level.

As the exhilaration of their growth settled, Vlad and the other True Depravitas turned their attention toward Overlord.

It was time.

Their incursion into Hell had granted them power beyond expectation. If Hell could offer such gains, then the Abyss promised something even greater—and they intended to claim it.

Overlord met their gazes, already prepared to assist them.

Then, suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

A solemn light appeared within them, sharp and calculating.

At once, the True Depravitas tensed.

Anything capable of drawing such a reaction from Overlord could only mean trouble.

And whatever it was, it was coming.